Paralepsy

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Paraleipsis \Par`a*leip"sis\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to leave
     on one side, to omit; para` beside + ? to leave.] (Rhet.)
     A pretended or apparent omission; a figure by which a speaker
     artfully pretends to pass by what he really mentions; as, for
     example, if an orator should say, "I do not speak of my
     adversary's scandalous venality and rapacity, his brutal


     conduct, his treachery and malice." [Written also
     {paralepsis}, {paralepsy}, {paralipsis}.]
     [1913 Webster]